Under the brilliant floodlights, the Berlin Olympic Stadium was transford into a cauldron of noise and colour.
The passionate cheers of Arsenal and Juventus fans rged into one deafening roar, creating an electrifying atmosphere that made it impossible to distinguish individual chants — yet the raw passion was unmistakable.
The 2014-2015 UEFA Champions League final was officiated by the experienced Turkish referee, Cüneyt Çakır. After checking his watch, he slowly stepped back from the centre circle.
Around the world, comntators from every major broadcaster could barely contain their excitent as the mont finally arrived.
Martin Tyler: "This is the 2014-2015 Champions League final — Arsenal of the Premier League against Juventus of Serie A. Two proud giants of their respective divisions. What kind of spectacle will they produce tonight?"
Cüneyt Çakır blew his whistle.
Suárez kicked the ball off, passing it back to Kai, who laid it off to the defence. Juventus applied only moderate pressure. True to Italian football tradition, they preferred to sit deeper and restrict Arsenal once they crossed the halfway line rather than press high aggressively.
Kai dropped slightly deeper to receive the ball before distributing it to Cazorla. Seeing Sánchez tightly marked, Cazorla played it across to Wilshere.
Wilshere glanced toward Di María, but he too was well covered. True to his nature, the Englishman refused to play it safe. He took a touch and drove forward with purpose.
Kai imdiately pushed up in support behind him, while Cazorla moved closer to create a passing triangle. In an instant, Arsenal transitioned from a asured build-up into an attacking shape — the hallmark of a top-level team.
Juventus reacted instantly. As Wilshere advanced down the flank, Pirlo closed him down quickly, with teammates swarming in to form a tight pocket.
"Turn!" Kai roared.
It was too late. Wilshere was surrounded and lost possession.
Pogba won the ball cleanly and quickly switched play out to the flank. Vidal brought it down with his chest and, before Kai could close him down, laid it off to Tevez.
Tevez attempted to burst past Cazorla using his pace, but the Spaniard read the move brilliantly and stepped across to block his path. Feeling the pressure, Tevez panicked and played a hurried pass toward the centre.
At that exact mont, a foot darted in.
Kai had read the pass perfectly. Though he couldn't win the ball cleanly, he managed to deflect it, forcing Pirlo to adjust. The Italian maestro took a touch and, without hesitation, unleashed a powerful long-range shot.
Martin Tyler: "Pirlo! Long-range effort!!"
Pirlo's shot was a wicked knuckleball, its trajectory unpredictable. However, Navas was well-positioned. He moved quickly and stretched out his right hand, frantically tipping the ball over the bar.
"Ahhhhhhhh!"
The Italian comntator cried out in frustration.
The shot was both sudden and dangerous. It sent a clear ssage to everyone in the stadium — Pirlo was in sharp form tonight. The Arsenal players exchanged glances, a slight shiver running through the team.
Kai watched Pirlo's retreating figure and instinctively pursed his lips.
Martin Tyler: "What a statent from Pirlo! The match is barely five minutes old, and he's already produced a spectacular long-range strike. Even though it didn't result in a goal, it has put Arsenal on high alert. A Pirlo in this mood is an enormous threat."
.
The corner kick for Juventus was aid at Morata for his superb heading ability, but Navas reacted decisively. He ca off his line aggressively, leaped high, and punched the ball clear with authority.
Wilshere collected the loose ball, turned sharply, and imdiately launched a counter-attack. Cazorla, Kai, and several others surged forward in support.
Martin Tyler: "Arsenal counter! Here they co!"
The Gunners attacked with ferocious speed. Wilshere drove forward with long strides before passing to Kai, who had pushed up in support.
Kai took a touch and advanced. Pogba rushed out to challenge him, and the two collided heavily. Both players staggered, but as his balance wavered, Kai suddenly looked up and, using pure core strength, swung his right leg, blasting the ball toward goal.
Alan Smith (standing up): "Kai–!"
Just minutes after Pirlo's strike, Kai delivered a thunderous response. His shot was less elegant but far more powerful — a cannonball that skimd low across the grass, making it extrely difficult for Buffon to save.
The veteran Italian goalkeeper threw himself full-length, stretching every inch of his body. He managed to get a fingertip to the ball, deflecting it onto the post before it bounced clear.
"Tsk!"
Kai stamped his foot in frustration.
The stadium, which had fallen montarily silent, exploded once more. Arsenal fans erupted in ecstasy, while Juventus supporters felt a growing sense of urgency. Neutral fans and comntators, however, were thrilled by the early intensity.
Martin Tyler: "What a start! Less than five minutes gone, and we've already seen two high-quality long-range efforts from Pirlo and Kai. Both goalkeepers have been outstanding. This final is living up to every expectation!"
Alan Smith (excitedly): "Young and spirited! This is exactly what we wanted to see. One long-range shot answered by another. Both core midfielders have sent a clear warning to their opponents!"
The Italian comntator clutched his chest dramatically. "Questo desiderio di vincere… è terrificante!"
(This desire to win… It's frightening!)
.
"Well done!" Pat Rice shouted from the sidelines, his voice filled with approval.
In his view, this was exactly how Arsenal should play — tit for tat. When the opponent fires a warning shot, you answer with one of your own. Juventus had tried to intimidate them with a long-range strike; Arsenal responded in kind. There would be no breathing room for the Italians tonight.
"Good shot," Arsène Wenger murmured, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction. In this match against Juventus, Kai needed to shoulder significant responsibility in midfield. That powerful long-range effort had sent a clear ssage: he was more than ready for the challenge.
Pirlo frowned slightly as he jogged back. He had to admit that Kai's strike carried real nace. Just as Pirlo had announced his threat with a long-range shot, Kai had responded in kind. Though their techniques differed, both possessed a genuine goal-scoring range from distance.
"Alright, let's settle down," Pirlo called to his teammates. "Keep the ball moving and bring it to ."
He refused to accept being dominated by a younger player so early in the match.
However, the flow of the ga quickly moved beyond Pirlo's control.
The mont he received the ball, Cazorla and Wilshere closed in aggressively, sandwiching him. While Pirlo's technique could usually help him escape ordinary pressure, Wilshere — that typical Premier League battler — used his arms and body cleverly, tugging and obstructing just enough to make life uncomfortable.
Pirlo eventually managed to release the ball, but the pass lacked quality and precision.
Arsenal's high-intensity press continued relentlessly. Every ti Juventus tried to play patient, short passes in their own half to regain control, Arsenal sward them imdiately.
Kai stood in the centre circle like a predator, eyes locked on Juventus's increasingly chaotic territory. Arsenal had no intention of allowing their opponents even a single comfortable pass. They pressed high, fast, and without rcy, forcing Juventus into hurried forward balls.
"Vidal!" Pogba shouted, looking for an outlet.
Vidal, Juventus's main progressive midfielder, received the ball. But Kai had already anticipated the pass and closed in at high speed.
So fast! Vidal thought, startled.
He tried to control and turn, but Kai blocked his path perfectly. When Vidal attempted to push forward, Kai delivered a subtle but powerful shoulder charge that forced the Italian to take two extra steps. In that split second, Kai extended his leg and poked the ball away cleanly.
"Counter!"
A huge roar erupted from the Arsenal fans.
Kai won the ball in the centre circle and imdiately surged forward. Arsenal transitioned into attack mode in an instant.
On the sideline, both Arsène Wenger and Pat Rice rose to their feet. This was a promising opportunity.
Kai drove forward with long strides. Pirlo and Pogba rushed to close him down, but before they could arrive, Kai released a precise pass to Cazorla, who had found space near the edge of the penalty area.
"Cazorla!"
Bonucci's eyes widened in alarm. "Mark him! Soone get on him!"
Barzagli sprinted over desperately, but it was too late.
Cazorla took a delicate touch, then chipped the ball forward with exquisite timing as it rolled toward him.
The ball looped beautifully over Barzagli's head and dropped into the space behind him. Cazorla turned sharply, ready to burst forward and chase it down.
But the mont he accelerated, he felt a firm tug on his shirt. He hesitated for a split second — torn between going down dramatically and continuing the attack. In that brief mont, Barzagli released him and turned to recover.
It was too late for Cazorla to fall.
Both players raced desperately toward the ball. Cazorla reached it first and poked it hastily with the tip of his boot. The ball rolled low toward the far post, where the right side of Juventus's goal stood completely unguarded.
Buffon was caught out of position on the opposite side.
For a heartbeat, every Juventus fan froze, their hearts in their throats.
Then, suddenly —
A foot flashed into view.
Chiellini had sprinted back at full speed and executed a perfectly tid sliding clearance, kicking the ball away from danger.
"GOOOOAhhhh!!" Martin Tyler cried out. "Chiellini! What a save! Italian last-ditch defending at its finest."
The Juventus players breathed a collective sigh of relief, their emotions swinging wildly.
But before they could settle —
Bang!
A thunderous strike split the air.
The next second, the ball flew like a missile into the back of the Juventus net.
The entire Berlin Olympic Stadium fell into stunned silence for a fraction of a second.
Then chaos erupted.
Alan Smith (standing up, voice cracking with excitent): "LE KAI!!!!!!!!!!!! GOAL! GOAL! GOAL! An unbelievable volley! An absolute thunderbolt from the skipper!"
Martin Tyler: "Just seven minutes into the final, and Arsenal have taken the lead! What a strike from Kai!"
. . .
The mont the ball hit the net, the Arsenal end of the stadium exploded. Twenty-six thousand red and white supporters rose as one, leaping, hugging, and screaming with unrestrained joy. The roar was deafening — a wall of sound that shook the Olympic Stadium to its foundations.
Kai sprinted toward the corner flag in front of the Arsenal fans, arms spread wide. His face was a picture of pure ecstasy. He spun his right arm like a windmill, leaped into the air, and landed with three powerful, fist-pumping punches toward the crowd.
[Image]
"ARSENAL!!!!"
"ARSENAL!!!!"
"ARSENAL!!!!"
Three earth-shattering roars rolled across the stadium like thunder. The passion of the Arsenal fans reached its absolute peak.
Kai beat his chest fiercely with both fists.
"CO ON!!!"
The noise in the stadium grew even louder. The Arsenal supporters were completely ignited.
Billy was practically on his knees in the stands, tears mixing with the rain on his face. Mr. Wilson clutched his chest with one hand while frantically slapping the railing with the other. Mrs. Winter held the black-and-white portrait of her late husband tightly to her chest, her voice trembling with pride and emotion.
"Did you see that, Bruce? We're leading! We're actually leading! Arsenal are going to win this! Victory will be ours!"
. . .
Please do leave a review and powerstones, which helps with the book's exposure.
Feel like joining a Patreon for free and subscribing to 30 advanced chapters?
Visit the link:
[email protected]/GRANDMAESTA_30
Change @ to a
User Comments
0 comments from readers